Never Lose an Employee Again: The Simple Path to Remarkable Retention

In this naive program, business consultant Coleman (Never Lose a Customer Again) offers scattered guidance on how companies can boost employee retention. He outlines eight “phases” to help employees become invested in their employers, spanning from the hiring process to 100 days into a new job. The first phase is to make an impression on prospective applicants, and Coleman recommends making a creative job posting (he cites a video game company that advertised “Now Hiring” in computer code on a billboard across the street from a competitor). Next steps involve convincing the applicant to accept an offer, affirming their decision to join (a handwritten note can go a long way), and helping them find their footing through regular check-ins and ensuring they have opportunities to learn from more experienced colleagues. The final phases take a turn into the bizarre; recommendations on how to “formalize a long-term relationship” with an employee and turn them into a “raving fan and zealous promoter” sound more appropriate for cults than workplaces. Additionally, Coleman’s decision to focus on how readers can “make your emails more welcoming” while paying scant attention to how improving pay, benefits, and other tangible rewards affects retention feels like a master class in missing the point. The result is a tepid response to the Great Resignation. (June)